Relationships .... do you form them?

Recently I was in a class and the topic was about relationships. The class is one designed to build leaders in the church (it is AWESOME!!!) Anyway, the topic was relationships, about how that is how Jesus built the ministry the Father sent Him to build. Jesus formed lasting, strong relationships with people who believed in Him, in His message, in His ministry and those people loved him and became His "support" here on earth (He didnt necessarily need that support but in His humaness he wanted it, I believe he wanted to show us and teach us from those relationships) He sought out men who like Himself would be willing to give up all they were asked for the ministry ,mind you HE, Jesus, gave the ultimate sacrifice, but those men who He brought into His inner circle were men willing to give up their families, their own comfort, their jobs ... well, you get the picture, to follow the Mesiah! This is beginning to look like it could be two posts in one I will try to stay focused ...
The point in all this being He formed relationships with like minded men. Men who were willing to follow His lead while giving all they had to give to the ministry.

The point of the class discussion is do we form relationships with people who also have a similiar ministry vision, who are called to reach the lost however, God has called you (be it to single moms, young girls, young men, addicts who have been freed of addiction, wall street work-aholics ... are you getting the picture here?)

I can honestly with everything in me answer that question with a resounding "NO" and for the past several days now I am trying to get to the root of WHY I don't. Here is my list of excuses .... can you relate with any of them?

1. For as long as I can remember just about every man I cared about in my life has walked out - starting with my father, and ending with an ex-husband and a serious boyfriend. That is difficult to type, very difficult to type but if I am going to be truly transparent here I have to say it. Of coarse that makes me wonder .. what is it about me? The truth of the matter is that I just dont know how to "pick 'em"

2. As a single mom I feel needy so much of the time. The need is multi-level financial, emotional and spiritual. When I feel needy I have a difficult time believing I have anything to give to offer to anyone.

3. I dont want to burden anyone with all my need :)I dont want anyone to feel like they have to respond or supply the answers to everything we need. I hate that feeling the most and that is what keeps me from calling people to ask them over for dinner, or to hangout etc...

4. I think I am weird. It is the artist in me, I see things from a little different perspective than most and well, I think people will think I am weird.

5.I FEAR rejection This goes hand in hand with excuse #1

6. Relationships take work and time! I am not afraid of the work or time however, time is not something I have alot of and honestly I am not a very good steward of my time (yeah, I am trying to work on that too) I dont have one single childhood friend that I have held on to. Really not one! I do have one friend who has managed to stick with me for nearly 20 years now but I have no doubt she has had to work hard to do so. :) You know I love ya SC!

So why do I put all that out here? Accountability I suppose. I don't want to be that way. I want to win the world for Jesus and I know I cannot do that alone. I can think of an area of ministry I believe He has spoken to my heart about and well I am not at all sure how He will bring it together but I KNOW there will have to be others involved and that will require ... YOU GOT IT ... RELATIONSHIPS!

So there I am as see through as glass! How about you ... do you tend to stick to yourself trying to go it mostly alone or if you are great at forming and keeping some relationships why do you think that is? Can you give us some pointers?